I love the music from Scotland. As far as Celtic rock is concerned, my favourite band was Wolfstone during their Ivan Drever/Duncan Chisolm years. I wanted to find something similar, but I was aware that it wouldn’t be easy. Anyway, last year I came across a band from Glasgow that drew my attention, Stramash, and they were chosen as Band of the Month in August 2011. Stramash are Andrew Jackson (guitar, mandolin and vocals), Andrew Lowrie (drums, percussion and vocals), William Maxwell (bass and vocals), Michael Gilfeather (lead guitar and vocals), Alan Buchan (Highland pipes, flute and whistle) and Elaine Williamson (piano). There is no fiddler, but they share with Wolfstone their Scottish roots and their love for hard rock sounds.

I have been waiting for Stramash debut album and recently I got a copy from the band. The album is titled “The Uprising” and consists of 14 tracks with the real Scottish taste, musically and lyrically. There are well known songs and kick-ass sets of tunes. I enjoy particularly the tracks on which the pipes have a main role:

- “Hush” a song previously recorded by another great Scottish band, The Prodigals, formerly known as the Prodigals Sons and Mary d’Arc,- “Stirling Psycho”: rocking guitar and pipes on this Deep Purple / Led Zeppelin influenced top-notch track. It’s a sort of a medley featuring “Cam Ye O’er Frae France” (at least the music) and Talking Heads “Psycho Killer”,- “The Insanity of Miss McAskill”, a start à la Velvet Underground and a great trad. pipes tune in the middle,- “The Walking Song”, another rocking instrumental based on a fantastic guitar and pipes work,- “The Jig Rig”, a set of tunes that will become a classic Celtic rock number,- “Loch Lomond”, not your usual version, just have a listen,- “Top Level”, more pipes & guitars, some Caribbean sounds and a small tribute to Grease …

But, as I have previously said, there are well-known songs too, like “The Rattling Bog” and “Bonnie Ship The Diamond”, and some numbers with a Celtic pop-rock twist, for instance, “Tom Paines Bones”

Stramash “The Uprising” is an excellent album. If I am obliged to find a weak point, I would say that perhaps it’s a little bit long (69 minutes). Nevertheless, if you are a Celtic rock fan, and miss the Wolfstone early years or even the sadly defunct band Coinneach, Stramash are your next Scottish love. File together with Mudmen, Enter the Haggis and Prydein.

Friday, June 22, 2012

"The band began in 2010 when long-time friends Andrew Mithun, Ryan Knaub, and Shaughnessy McDaniel decided to start The Stubby Shillelaghs as a small side project. In October of 2010 "Patrick's Pub" owner Greg Farnsworth, looking for an act to play his Halloween show, took a chance on the as-yet unproven Stubbies. The result was a resounding success which led to the band's weekly show, "Stubby Tuesdays". After several months of these Stubby Tuesdays the band auditioned and recruited fiddle player Jacquelyn McConnell and the band was complete.

They recorded and released their first self-produced album "Stubbies Assemble!" on St. Patrick's Day of 2011. Following this there was an expansion into Denver and other parts of Colorado. The band has recently released their 2nd studio album "Whiskey Business" and their first live album "Parental Advisory Live!" and is looking forward to the many opportunities that have started to spring up around them."

Thursday, June 21, 2012

This is the only release by the sadly defunct Dutch band Finnegan's Lads.

"The Finnegan's Lads & Lassie story (so far...) .. .. It's summer 2003 and Xavier and Erik have been listening to Irish music for a while, and on just one of those hot summer-evenings they got the idea to play some Irish traditionals themselves. Xavier still had an old accordion at his place and Erik was going to play guitar and sing the songs. After watching a gig from the legendary Dubliners in October they totally got into folk and practiced for their fist gig which was a big success. A few weeks after this the band expanded for the first time: Norman joined to play the bass guitar.

In April 2004 Erik went to Dublin to get some inspiration at Guinness, so the band had to quit for a while. At Erik's return in August, Robert, the former drummer of rock band Deterrence joined the gang to create a rock sound.

At this point there was just something missing: an electric guitar. After a short search Bart was added to our line-up and we were almost complete. Anne joined us on the tin whistle, making the folk-part of our sound a lot cooler. By the way, at this time Erik also plays the banjo and mandolin.

In June 2006 the band recorded their first mini-album "Uisce Beatha" of which the main song: "Whiskeyday, Everyday!" was chosen to be on the new Paddyrock Radio Compilation.

When you think of our music just think of listening to music while you are getting pissed by too much booze!.. .. Slainte!"

Saints & Sinners “Pubcrawlers” was one of the best EPs last year. In fact CFPAM readers votes pushed them to no. 5. The lads from Tours recorded new tracks this winter and they have recently released their debut album, “Stand by to Board”.

The standard edition (vinyl) includes 8 tracks, 7 new songs and “Blood, Heart & Memories” which was previously released on the “Dirty Guy Rock Vol. 01”
compilation (2010). Together with the vinyl they are giving away for
free the CD edition, which includes four bonus tracks (all the songs
from the “Pubcrawlers” EP) and has a different artwork.

There are no big changes, but real improvements: more fiddle, more aggressive vocals and some whistle and flute by guest Roman Leloup on tracks no. 1, 3 and 5. No, Floi, Simon, Math et Julien have not let you down.

Which would be the numbers to check out? The opening track “Demons Go Out” (great sound based on tin whistle and violin together with powerful lead and background vocals and some clapping), “From Laugh to Tears” (my fave, IMHO their biggest effort to date), “Choosing Another Way” (harmonica can be heard on this song) and “Life’s Not a Bed of Roses”.

Saints & Sinners identity was clear on their EP from 2011, raw folk-punk. And that’s what we got now, folk punk songs about booze, women and the sea. Fortunately they have evolved in that direction and have turned a deaf ear to the siren song (the one that says that they should have moved to the Celtic end)

“My Empire of Dirt” is the Dirty Artichokes debut album. These Italian guys released a 5 track demo back in 2010 (three tracks can be found on the sampler dated June 2010 ) and they are our current band of the month. So, it’s useless to say that this eight piece is an amazing Celtic punk band.

Twelve tracks in 37 minutes and 10 of them are self-penned songs. These are two important points. First of all, the album is not too long. Secondly, they have bet on their own compositions. And, to tell you the truth, Dirty Artichokes write catchy songs. The beginning of the album is flawless: “Brighi’s March”, an awesome instrumental, “Ordinary Tales of Bastards and Bitches”, the real gem of the album, and “22 in the Belly of a Shark”, another great Celtic punk number. This would be the first highlight.

The second highlight would be track no. 5, “Land of the Clover”, which is my second best song on the album. It runs slowly at the beginning with flute, fiddle and acoustic guitar, and then it goes faster at the end.

And the third highlight of the album would be a couple of kick-ass fast-paced punk songs: “Another Jug” (featuring a reggae part) and “50 fuck”.

The only weak point that I have found on this album is the small budget that has not allowed them to hire a producer. I feel that some arrangements on tracks 4, 8 and 10 are a little bit “flat” and the help of a producer could have improved them. It’s a personal opinion, but I feel that Budo’s raucous vocals should be backed with more aggressive arrangements.

Dirty Artichokes have shared the stage with The Real McKenzies, Cruachan, the Vad Vuc and recently they have played a couple of shows together with The Mahones and Firkin in Austria and Hungary. If you like young bands full of passion, give Dirty Artichokes a listen.

Track listing:

(This is the right order. There is a mistake on the back cover. It is printed taht track no. 6 is "Devil's Dance Floor", but in fact it's "Drunken Sailor")

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Stramash in essence are a Celtic/Folk Rock Band who originally formed in
2008 as a tribal pipe and drum band. After 2 years of extensive touring
they opted for a bigger, more electrified sound, and Stramash was born.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Part-Time Pirates was formed in 2006 by song writer and guitarist Heyden and vocalist Kyle. Years past as two man shows were played until March 2011 where the entire band was formed, Adriaan on drums and Matthew on Bass guitar. Part-Time Pirates is a fusion of many different genres, namely pirate, blues, folk, rock, jazz and reggae.

“R’n’R Keeps Me Alive” is the second recording released by the Serbian band The Detonators. The band from Novi Sad has been playing around Serbia and Europe since 2010 and they released their 16 track debut album titled “Nuthin’ to Lose” in Spring 2011. The “R’n’R Keeps Me Alive” EP was issued at the end of 2011 and recorded by the current line-up: Schmuck (vocals, guitar), Peter (accordion), Yanbo (bass , background vocals), Boris (drums, background vocals) and Mix (mandolin).

The Detonators have been described as Rockabilly with Irish Folk and Psychobilly influences. I find some “folkabilly” similarities with the likes of Jamie Clarke’s Perfect (for instance, on track no. 2 “Down & Out”) and punk with a folk twist similarities with the likes of The Buccaneers or The Porters (just listen to the opening track “Next to You”). The accordion on “Lost in Paradise” is also an evidence that The Detonators love The Pogues too, but maybe the biggest influence of the band is Social Distortion.

The band is really tight and their sound based on accordion and mandolin is really accomplished. Some people could say that they are not really original, but this is not totally true. These Serbian guys have worked hard on their own sound and this EP is definitely a strong release if you like punk with folkie instruments. Enjoy!

Tracklist:

1. Next To You 2:03 2. Down And Out 2:47 3. Pictures From The Other Side 3:43 4. Ain't My Day 2:04 5. Lost In Paradise 2:47 6. Things That Keep Me Alive 2:56